Healthy Start Coalition

09/18/2018

One Mother's story - you HAVE to read and share with pregnant and new families! As she states, "It can happen to anybody". . . the best of parents and the sweetest of babies!

When the Weaver family lost their son to an unexplained cause of death, they were left devastated and confused. Now, they’re working to raise awareness about sudden unexpected infant deaths so that other families won’t experience what they went through. Read their story here.

07/18/2018

Can you believe it? 3 HOT CAR incidents yesterday. One 8 month old died rescued by passersby, one toddler died, and another infant is in serious condition. What can you do to help raise awareness?

06/12/2018

We think this post especially appropriate this week.

06/12/2018

Well, it's been a while and I apologize for that! We've been very busy at Healthy Start closing out the current year and preparing for the new look of Healthy Start next year! In the meantime, here's some safety information for the Summer!

04/17/2018

You have thought about your goals for school, for your job or career and for your health. You have also thought about how having children fits in with those goals, and you have decided that you want to become pregnant. Your preconception health (before pregnancy health) is very important and can affect the health of your future baby. By making a plan before getting pregnant and taking the time to get healthy, you can take the steps to a healthier you and baby-to-be.

02/28/2018

Healthy Start is a Florida success story. . .
Please do NOT cut our budget lifeline for mothers & babies.
Infant mortality reduced 35% over the 25-year life of Healthy Start.
Why pay for the cost of failure when we can continue to invest in success?
Reject the Senate's cut of $18.6 million and unwarranted proviso language- Line items 197 & 452 in the Appropriations Bill in Conference.
Call our Legislators - the Florida Senate - info listed below! It's not too late!! Please.

02/26/2018

MAKING AN IMPACT IN EVERY FLORIDA COMMUNITY
Healthy Start helps women in every county of Florida receive the education, services and support they need to have a healthy pregnancy, birth and future for their baby and family. The following are a just a few of our stories.

“It’s amazing to have come full circle and be able to give back.”
Helena was supported by the Healthy Start Coalition of Flagler and Volusia Counties care coordination staff as she faced issues of addiction and depression during her pregnancy. She participated in residential substance abuse treatment, home visiting, and aftercare to help ensure a healthy future for her and her baby. She now helps new moms coming into the Coalition’s services as a volunteer peer and shares the successes she now enjoys as a mom, student, and member of the workforce. Helena completed an internship at Healthy Start as part of the Daytona State College’s Human Services Program and is on a scholarship at Flagler College, where she is completing her B.A. in Public Administration. Her daughter Isabelle is now 4 years old.

“My counselor gives me confidence.”
A mother of two children, Joy accepted Healthy Start services, including counseling, when she became pregnant with her third child. In addition to providing emotional support during her pregnancy, Joy’s counselor gave her techniques to make her feel safe. Said Joy at the time, “My counselor gives me confidence, stabilizes my mood and encourages me to talk about my problems”.

Now Joy is a healthier, happier mother to three healthy children, works full- time as a behavioral technician and attends school part-time.

“Healthy Start was essential during my pregnancy and postnatal care.”
First-time mom Alessandra had a limited support system, when she joined the Healthy Start program in Sarasota County. Alessandra’s program coordinator provided her with support and assistance services, helping her to quit smoking and attend childbirth education classes and obstetric visits with her husband. Alessandra is grateful for the support she received from Healthy Start, sharing “I just have to thank you guys for letting me be part of Healthy Start so I can be a better mom!”

02/21/2018

Save our BABIES - Legislative Session
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Healthy Start $18.6 million Funding Cut Can’t be Overlooked
With the Parkland terror dominating attention, it’s important for advocates not to overlook the crippling impact on Healthy Start if the Florida Senate Health & Human Services appropriations plan goes forward as it currently exists.
This year, the House has provided full funding for Healthy Start over three budget categories at above $67 million. The Senate cuts nearly $19 million, down to a level of about $49 million. The reduction represents 29% of their funding. Services would be eliminated to roughly 6,600 high-risk women and babies statewide. And 25 years of community interventions and services that reduce infant mortality and support healthy pregnancies, that are unduplicated at the local level, would be dismantled.
Last year, Healthy Start reached more than 136,000 at-risk pregnant mothers and infants in Florida – at an average cost of less than $500 per client. The cost of one premature/low birth weight baby is $55,393. Costs rise significantly to more than $90,000 for babies born addicted to opioids.
Founded in 1991 with unanimous bipartisan support, Healthy Start is a proven program that’s one of Florida’s biggest success stories in improving the health and well-being of pregnant women and infants. In fact, infant mortality in Florida has decreased 35% since its inception.
The program provides education and support for families including infant care and safe sleep, pregnancy care and preparing for baby’s arrival, screening and referrals for perinatal depression, substance abuse, child development and much more.
Healthy Start needs to be fully funded to protect Florida’s high-risk pregnant mothers and infants and the state from crippling and needless costs of premature and low weight births.

02/15/2018

Advocacy- Healthy Start Coalitions have proved it over and over. Prevention saves MONEY!
Twenty five years of legislation has resulted in untold lives saved and over a million families helped by Healthy Start. Infant deaths in Florida have decreased 35.4% from 1990 to 2015. We can estimate that 753 more babies survived in 2015 as compared to 1990 due to the positive change in the infant death rate. Healthy Start contributes to Florida’s better birth outcomes; saves babies’ lives; and reduces the costs associated with poor birth outcomes.
KEEP HEALTHY START COALITIONS IN TACT!!